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New study suggests the first dinosaurs may have evolved near the equator, challenging previous assumptions about their origins. Lead author Joel Heath from UCL explains that fossils of the earliest dinosaurs were found in the Sahara and Amazon rainforest, deeper than previously thought. This discovery pushes back the timeline for dinosaur evolution by millions of years and reshapes our understanding of where they first appeared.
According to the study published in *Current Biology*, the first dinosaurs likely originated near the equator, rather than in Gondwana’s southwest region. Using computer models and analyzing gaps in the fossil record, researchers found that these early reptiles thrived in hot, arid environments like present-day Amazonia, the Sahara desert, and the Congo basin. Heath noted: “Our modeling suggests that the earliest dinosaurs might have originated in western, low-latitude Gondwana.”
The findings challenge the belief that dinosaurs were confined to the Southern Hemisphere. A recent discovery of a 230 million-year-old raptor in North America supports this new theory, as it shows dinosaurs existed in both hemispheres at that time. Heath emphasized: “Dinosaurs are well studied but we still don’t really know where they came from.”
The study highlights that the earliest dinosaurs were adapted to hot temperatures and arid climates. One group, sauropods like Brontosaurus, preferred warm environments, while theropods and ornithischians developed body heat generation, allowing them to migrate toward the poles. This research opens new avenues for understanding dinosaur evolution and challenges long-held assumptions about their origins.
Sascha is a U.K.-based staff writer at Live Science. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Southampton and a master’s degree in science communication from Imperial College London. Her work has appeared in *The Guardian* and Zoe’s health website. Besides writing, she enjoys playing tennis, bread-making, and browsing second-hand shops for hidden gems.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/animals/dinosaurs/secrets-of-1st-dinosaurs-lie-in-the-sahara-and-amazon-rainforest-study-suggests